The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft. The Washington Capitals traded the pick and Erik Gustafsson for Rasmus Sandin at the 2023 NHL trade deadline.
The pick that now belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs originally belonged to the Boston Bruins, but they traded it to Washington along with a 2024 4th-round pick, a 2025 5th-round pick, and Craig Smith for Dmitry Orlov (50% salary) and Garnet Hathaway.
With the Bruins getting eliminated in the first round, the pick became the 28th overall selection in the upcoming draft.
The Leafs have a lot of uncertainty heading into the 2023 NHL draft. Team general manager Kyle Dubas is unsigned. It is possible that he will re-sign, but if Toronto loses to the Florida Panthers in round two, Dubas could be let go.
If Dubas is going, there is a good chance that head coach Sheldon Keefe goes too. Both have done an incredible job to make this team as good as possible, but playoffs are when it matters. Changes could be on the way.
How does this affect the draft? Change in management, coaching, or both could change what type of players the Leafs are interested in drafting. Teams always say they just chose the best player available, but it is safe to say they have some criteria for what they want scouts to look for. We’ll find out on June 28th what Toronto decides to do with the 28th overall pick.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2023 NHL Draft
With the Leafs pick being so late in the draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them trade it to try and acquire additional picks. The Leafs have no picks in rounds two, three, four, and seven. It is a move that Dubas and other GMs have used before. They could also trade it to acquire a player or prospect, but that’s more unlikely.
If the Leafs decide to keep the pick, there will still be some very talented players available to select. Here is a closer look at a few possible options for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Samuel Honzek
Samuel Honzek is from Trencin, Slovakia. He is 18 years old, measures 6’4, 185 Lbs, and can play on the wing or at center. He registered 23 goals and 33 assists for 56 points in 43 games for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL. (Stats from eliteprospects.com)
Oliver Bonk
Oliver Bonk is an 18-year-old right-shooting defenseman from Ottawa, Ontario. He is 6’1, 175 Lbs with lots of offensive abilities. Bonk registered ten goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 67 games with the London Knights of the OHL.
Tanner Molendyk
Tanner Molendyk is an 18-year-old left-shooting defenseman from Kamloops, British Columbia. He is 5’11, 176 Lbs, with offensive upside. Molendyk registered nine goals and 28 assists for 37 points in 67 games with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL.
Charlie Stramel
Charlie Stramel is an 18-year-old right-shooting center from Rosemount, Minnesota. He measures in at 6’3, 216 Lbs. Stramel registered five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 33 games for the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA.
Whether the Toronto Maple Leafs select one of these players or someone else, either of these young men would be a fine addition to the organization.